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Top 5 Sectors Set to Benefit from Mauritania’s Oil & Gas Development

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3 years ago

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Mauritania

Top 5 sectors that will benefit from oil and gas projects in Mauritania include infrastructure, green hydrogen, services, finance, and tourism and hospitality

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, May 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

With the discovery of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas field in 2015 and the latest developments regarding the BirAllah field, Mauritania has become an increasingly attractive destination for investment. In addition to hydrocarbon supply benefits, the country is set to see numerous economic opportunities made possible through oil and gas monetization, all of which will be showcased at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power conference and exhibition – taking place from November 21-22 this year.

Infrastructure

According to the World Bank, the lack of infrastructure in Mauritania has caused a significant constraint on economic growth. However, with the introduction of large-scale energy developments such as GTA, which require significant infrastructure investment such as roads, pipelines, and storage facilities, opportunities for growth in this area have increased. Developing these infrastructure projects will create jobs in construction and maintenance, which will boost the economy. One specific project is the transformation of the port city of Nouadhibou into a regional gas processing, import and export hub, which, in addition to employment creation, will require an expansion of the current 300,000 metric tons oil storage capacity.

Additionally, on the power infrastructure side, the Banda Gas-to-Power Project, developed by New Fortress Energy, aims to produce natural gas for electricity generation by 2024. The project includes upstream gas field production, power generation, and power transmission components. It will reduce costs and increase supply for Mauritanian households and industry, while promoting regional integration through electricity exports to Senegal and Mali.

Green hydrogen

Hydrogen has a crucial part to play in the shift to sustainable energy. Despite its potential, the production of green hydrogen is still limited and expensive. According to Nils Røkke, Chairman of European Energy Research Alliance, one solution is to concurrently develop blue and green hydrogen, with the anticipation that green hydrogen will gradually prevail as the dominant form. This is the strategy adopted by bp in Mauritania which has operator interests in GTA and BirAllah Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fields, but correspondingly studies the feasibility of a green hydrogen project in the country. Mauritania’s Minister of Finance Isselmou Ould Mohamed M’Bady advocated for “significant increase in blended financing to support the transition towards green energy.” Using profits from first gas could be one of the solutions to finance green hydrogen projects.

Using profits from first gas could be one of the solutions to finance green hydrogen projects

Services

Already representing a leading producer of minerals, Mauritania benefits from a solid pool of local service providers to the extractive sectors, whether logistics and security or legal and engineering consulting. The expansion of infrastructure and development of oil and gas projects will create even further job opportunities across this sector. For example, the local consulting firm Meen&Meen, part of a joint venture with Jade Advisory and EPCM Holdings, has secured a strategic contract for the transformation of the south of Nouakchott port into a regional hub. The projected growth of 6.2% of GDP by 2025 in the country will also improve the quality and availability of services in the country. The transportation industry, in particular, is expected to benefit from increased demand for goods and people, with the African Development Bank estimating that the transport sector in Mauritania will grow by 5.5% per year between 2020 and 2025.

Finance

According to the World Bank, access to finance remains a significant challenge in Mauritania, with only 10% of the population having access to formal financial services. Ousmane Mamadou Kane, the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Promotion of the Productive Sector explained that the government aims to inject a lot of resources into the Treasury and the Central Bank using revenues generated from oil and gas. This will create significant opportunities for local banks and financial institutions while enabling the broader business sector to benefit from improved access to capital.

Tourism and Hospitality

Less known for tourism than its neighboring countries Morocco and Senegal, Mauritania still has hidden gems such as the Adrar region which is full of fascinating sites such as the historic towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane, or the Iron Ore Train, accessible to adventurous travelers which runs from the mining town of Zouerat to the coastal city of Nouadhibou and offers stunning views of the desert landscape. The improvement of road infrastructure and increased revenues are expected to give a boost to the hospitality and tourism sectors.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power, the leading energy event of the region, is scheduled to take place in Nouakchott, Mauritania on November 21-22. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event aims to bring together potential investors, project developers, and public stakeholders to create an ideal platform for initiating new projects and signing deals. By organizing high-level panel discussions, exclusive networking sessions, and technical workshops, MSGBC 2023 will dive into the ways that the country can utilize its natural gas industry to unlock long-term economic advantages.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Afreximbank Posts Robust Q1 2026 Results with 25% Growth in Net Income and Improved Profitability

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment

The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate

CAIRO, Egypt, May 22, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment.

 

The Group continued to expand its lending activities in Q1 2026, resulting in total credit exposure growing by 2% to reach a portfolio of US$42 billion, up from US$41 billion as of 31 December 2025. This performance reflects Afreximbank’s leading role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure, and its strategic contribution to economic resilience across Africa and the Caribbean.

Average loans and advances for Q1 2026 stood at US$32 billion, up 8% compared to the same period in the prior year, driving the recorded growth in interest income. The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and cash equivalents of US$5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets, consistent with FY2025 and above the Bank’s strategic minimum.

Asset quality also remained strong, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 2.40%, broadly in line with 2.43% at FY2025 and below industry average.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.6 billion at 31 March 2026, up from US$8.4 billion at FY2025, supported by internally generated capital of US$268.9 million and new equity investments received during the quarter, underscoring the Bank’s continued ability to mobilise capital from its shareholders in support of its growth and development mandate.

The Group delivered strong profitability during the quarter.  Notwithstanding declining benchmark rates, total interest income rose by 14% year-on-year to reach US$813.6 million, while net interest income increased by 24% to US$510.0 million, compared with US$411.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19%, well within the Group’s strategic ceiling of 30%. As a result, Profit for the period increased to US$268.9 million, up from US$215.4 million in Q1 2025.

The Group continued to maintain a strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 23% as at 31 March 2026, in line with the Bank’s long-term capital management targets.

During the quarter, Afreximbank continued to demonstrate its counter-cyclical role in response to external shocks. In March 2026, the Bank launched a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries mitigate adverse spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility is designed to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions, particularly in energy, tourism and aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.

The Bank also continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen trade flows, industrial capacity and economic resilience across Africa and CARICOM. Regional integration received further momentum following South Africa’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026, bringing one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies into the Bank’s membership and giving the Bank full continental coverage.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics

Q1’2026

Q1’2025
Gross Income (US$ million)

874.1

784.9
Net Income (US$ million)

268.9

215.4
Return on average equity (ROAE)

13%

12%
Return on average assets (ROAA)

2.62%

2.38%
Cost-to-income ratio

19%

16%

 

Financial Position Metrics

Q1’2026

FY’2025
Total Assets (US$ billion)

41.7

42.3
Total Liabilities (US$ billion)

33.0

33.9
Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)

8.6

8.4
Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)

2.40%

2.43%
Cash/Total assets

14%

14%
Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)

23%

          23%

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance, underpinned by disciplined balance sheet management, sound asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate. Our swift launch of the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme further underscores Afreximbank’s counter-cyclical role in supporting member countries during periods of disruption. We remain focused on stabilising trade flows, easing liquidity pressures and advancing the industrial and economic transformation of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Via Licensing Alliance Expands Voice Codec Program with New Licensee, New Licensors, Publishes Comprehensive Pool Rate Structure

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Via Licensing Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 May 2026 – Via Licensing Alliance (Via) today announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the program’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors.

The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec program creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. This addition reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide.

Additionally, Via continues to prioritize transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The program’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website at https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#license-fees.

The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool license will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec License for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec program licensors are listed here: https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#licensors.

Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion and growing active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications.

“We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signal continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec program,” said Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance. “This pool license offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to license critical voice capabilities.”

EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway.

For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

About Via Licensing Alliance:
Via Licensing Alliance is the collaborative licensing leader, dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via has operated dozens of licensing programs for a variety of technologies. Via is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. For more information about Via, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

 

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Joint statement welcoming the Republic of Togo’s announcement on Visa facilitation for African nationals

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Togo

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda

LOMÉ, Togo, May 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcome the announcement by the Government of the Republic of Togo, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, regarding measures to facilitate visa-free entry for all nationals of African States holding valid passports, as announced by the Minister of Security on 18 May 2026.

The announcement was made in Lomé on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the continent’s premier trade and business platform, which has brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and stakeholders from across Africa to advance dialogue on intra-African trade, investment, and regional integration.

Throughout the engagements, participants underscored the importance of facilitating the movement of African citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors as an important enabler of intra-African trade and economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the announcement reflects the growing continental momentum towards strengthening connectivity and deepening African integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank, to which Togo is a State Party and a Member State, envision a continent where goods, services, capital, and people move more freely across borders in support of an integrated African market. Measures that facilitate mobility and connectivity continue to contribute towards advancing the broader mandate of both institutions; the attainment of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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